How do I port my settings from my Desktop to Laptop

I am currently using Ubuntu 10.04 installed on my desktop box. I have got a new laptop and I will be using it from now on. But I will have to do the setup all over again (setting up applications/updates). Plus many of my preferences and tweaks I've had in my desktop will be lost and those too I will have to all over again.

Is there an easy way where I can just take image or something and use it in my laptop??

Any help/pointers/links are much appreciated.

• on the old PC:

    dpkg --get-selections  > backup.pkg.lst 
  

• on the new PC - install Ubuntu with default packages

• copy backup.pkg.lst from the old PC to the new one

    sudo su
    dpkg --set-selections < backup.pkg.lst 
    apt-get update
    apt-get dselect-upgrade
    apt-get dist-upgrade
    apt-get upgrade
  

• copy home directory from old PC to the new one

Most of your display and application preferences are in your home directory (/home/<yourlogin>).

Coping this directory between your desktop and laptop computer should give you 80% of what you want. Just tar your home on the desktop, copy the archive and untar it. (scp would loose symlink and other things)

For the remaining 20%, I would consider a fresh install because laptops need special tuning. From an energy saving point of view, your battery will last longer when the system is tuned for that computer.